Did you know AL. Ringling Brewing Company is a gluten-reduced craft brewery in Baraboo, Wisconsin? When a beer is gluten-reduced, that means most people with gluten sensitivities can drink it without adverse reactions.
Brewmaster Drew Morden began releasing only gluten-reduced beers in 2022, once he started at AL. Ringling Brewing Co. Inspired by his mother and sister, who have celiac disease, he wanted to make his beer accessible to those with gluten allergies.
Gluten-free beer is different from gluten-reduced beer. A dedicated “gluten-free” brewery only allows certain gluten-free ingredients into the beer, such as buckwheat, sorghum, and oats.
Gluten-reduced beers can start out using ingredients that have gluten in them, such as barley and wheat, and without any special equipment. All you need to do is add an enzyme sold by White Labs called Clarity Ferm.
Clarity Ferm is an enzyme that cleaves gluten proteins so people with gluten sensitivities or allergies don’t have an adverse reaction. You do need to understand how much enzyme to add to make it gluten-reduced. If you don’t add enough, it won’t be gluten-reduced. This is also based on amount and type of grain used. Wheat has a higher proportion of gluten than barley, so you’d adjust the amount of enzyme used.
It’s good to get some of your beers that you brew with this enzyme tested. White labs can do this test for you. It’s called the ELISA test. This test certifies whether your beer is below 20 ppm. This is the FDA’s limit for gluten-free products and is where you can consider your beer gluten-reduced.
Brewing is a science. You can learn the brewing process over time but understanding the science of brewing helps you fix problems that you might encounter along the way. Also, this helps speed up efficiencies and allows you to be in control of the process.
“It’s an easy process to be able to do. I would encourage as many breweries as possible to brew beer this way. Using the enzyme Clarity Ferm, improves the head retentnion and shelf stability of your beer. Also, it allows more people, like my mom and sister with celiac disease, to be able to enjoy your beer,” says our brewmaster, Drew Morden.
Ringling Brewing Company is one of Wisconsin’s most unique places to visit. You feel connected to history as you enter the Ringling Bros Circus founder’s home, which is connected to the brewery’s tasting room. Even if you have a gluten allergy, you can drink our beer.